NFL Combinehttp://www.businessinsider.com/category/nfl-combine
en-usTue, 03 Mar 2015 15:49:56 -0500Tue, 03 Mar 2015 15:49:56 -0500The latest news on NFL Combine from Business Insiderhttp://static3.businessinsider.com/assets/images/bilogo-250x36-wide-rev.pngBusiness Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com
http://www.businessinsider.com/32-best-2015-nfl-draft-prospects-after-combine-2015-2The 32 best prospects in the 2015 NFL Drafthttp://www.businessinsider.com/32-best-2015-nfl-draft-prospects-after-combine-2015-2
Sun, 01 Mar 2015 10:08:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54f0afd069bedd7c59cb7819-840-630/jameis-winston-florida-state-draft-1.jpg" border="0" alt="jameis winston florida state draft"></p><p>We're just two months away from the NFL Draft.</p>
<p>With the college football season and the NFL combine in the rearview mirror, the prospects who we'll be talking about on draft day are starting to come into view.</p>
<p>Using the current big boards of nine NFL draft experts, we came up with an expert consensus list of the 32 best players in the 2015 Draft.</p>
<p>The experts: ESPN's <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/rankings?year=2015">Todd McShay</a>, NFL.com's <a href="http://www.nfl.com/top50">Daniel Jeremiah</a>, NFL.com's <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000473823/article/buckys-big-board-20-dante-fowler-vic-beasley-surge-up">Bucky Brooks</a>, Bleacher Report's <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2377017-2015-nfl-draft-big-board-post-combine-update/page/2">Matt Miller</a>, SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2015/2/18/8060553/2015-nfl-draft-top-100-leonard-williams-jameis-winston-marcus-mariota">Dan Kadar</a>, Fox Spots' <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-big-board-leonard-williams-jameis-winston-joel-klatt-version-3-022315">Joel Klatt</a>, CBS Sports' <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/big-board">Rob Rang</a>, SI's <a href="http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/02/25/2015-nfl-draft-rankings-top-prospects-big-board">Chris Burke</a>, and SI's<a href="http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/02/25/2015-nfl-draft-rankings-top-prospects-big-board"> Doug Farrar</a>.<a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2015/story/_/id/11825189/dante-fowler-florida-joins-mel-kiper-latest-2015-big-board-nfl-draft"><br></a></p><h3>1. Leonard Williams, USC defensive lineman (previously: 2nd)</h3>
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<p><p><strong>Average rank:</strong>&nbsp;1.2</p>
<p><strong>Top-32's:</strong>&nbsp;9 out of 9</p>
<p><strong>Highest rank:</strong>&nbsp;1st</p>
<p><strong>Lowest rank:</strong>&nbsp;2nd</p>
<p><strong>One thing to know:</strong>&nbsp;He's one of the most athletic prospects in the draft. He ran a 4.97 40-yard dash, which is a crazy fast time for someone his size.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>2. Jameis Winston, Florida State quarterback (previously: 4th)</h3>
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<p><p><strong>Average rank:</strong>&nbsp;2.8</p>
<p><strong>Top-32's:</strong>&nbsp;9 out of 9</p>
<p><strong>Highest rank:</strong>&nbsp;1st</p>
<p><strong>Lowest rank:</strong>&nbsp;6th</p>
<p><strong>One thing to know:</strong>&nbsp;His <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jameis-winston-nfl-combine-2015-2">stock has soared in recent weeks</a>. He's now the consensus No. 1 pick in the Draft.</p></p>
<br/><br/><h3>3. Marcus Mariota, Oregon quarterback (previously: 1st)</h3>
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<p><p><strong>Average rank:</strong> 3.9</p>
<p><strong>Top-32's:</strong> 9 out of 9</p>
<p><strong>Highest rank:</strong> 2nd</p>
<p><strong>Lowest rank:</strong> 7th</p>
<p><strong>One thing to know:</strong>&nbsp;Scouts started picking apart his game after the season ended, and concluded that he hasn't made enough pro-level throws to be a sure thing.</p></p>
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/32-best-2015-nfl-draft-prospects-after-combine-2015-2#4-amari-cooper-alabama-wide-receiver-previously-6th-4">See the rest of the story at Business Insider</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/byron-jones-breakout-star-nfl-combine-2015-2NFL prospect who put up freakish numbers at the combine was doing internships 2 years ago because he didn't think he'd go prohttp://www.businessinsider.com/byron-jones-breakout-star-nfl-combine-2015-2
Mon, 23 Feb 2015 16:41:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/54eb974beab8ea34115bc62d-1200-924/byron-jones-nfl-combine-prospect.jpg" border="0" alt="byron jones nfl combine prospect"></p><p>The breakout star of the NFL combine is Byron Jones, a cornerback prospect from UConn who delivered an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/byron-jones-nfl-combine-results-2015-2">eye-popping performance in front of scouts on Monday</a>.</p>
<p>He broke the combine broad jump record, and jumped higher than all but one prospect in the vertical leap.</p>
<p>After his performance, draft guru Mike Mayock <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000473522/article/uconns-byron-jones-breaks-combine-world-broad-jump-marks">called him a "verified freak" on NFL Network</a>.</p>
<p>But less than two years ago, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/2/23/8091783/byron-jones-2015-nfl-combine-broad-jump-uconn">Dan Kadar of SB Nation reports</a>, Jones was a normal college kid positioning himself for life after graduation. During spring break of his sophomore year, <a href="http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2013/10/byron-jones-manages-double-coverage-on-and-off-the-gridiron/">he went to work for Connecticut state representative Joe Aresimowicz in Hartford</a>. He parlayed that into a summer internship with congresswoman Elizabeth Esty in Washington, UConn Today reported at the time.</p>
<p>He was an economics major, and wasn't holding out much hope that he would have a career in football.</p>
<p>"I didn't really see the picture," Jones <a href="http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2015/02/patriots_2015_nfl_draft_prospe_3.html">told Kevin Duffy of MassLive before his breakout combine performance</a>. "A lot of people would tell me 'Byron, you have the potential to be a great player,' but at the time I didn't really have a lot of confidence. I didn't see it. I just wanted to focus on school, so I took care of my school things but as I got older, I saw that I did have some NFL potential."</p>
<p>Jones did everything from <a href="http://collegefootball.ap.org/wgem/article/uconn-cornerback-gets-insiders-look-capitol">working the front desk at Esty's office</a> and giving tours of the Capitol, the Associated Press reported in 2013.</p>
<p>Esty <a href="http://esty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/before-1st-regular-season-game-rep-elizabeth-esty-applauds-byron-jones">raved about him</a>, and he's now the main picture on the page of <a href="http://esty.house.gov/services/internships">her website</a> where you apply for internships.</p>
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Congrats to my former intern Byron Jones who's <a href="https://twitter.com/UConnFootball">@UConnFootball</a>'s new captain! Very proud of you <a href="http://t.co/IvyD0Yfk1D">http://t.co/IvyD0Yfk1D</a> <a href="http://t.co/fdkK8NZOn5">pic.twitter.com/fdkK8NZOn5</a> </p>— Elizabeth Esty (@RepEsty) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/502564236196077568">August 21, 2014</a>
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<p>Aresimowicz <a href="http://collegefootball.ap.org/wgem/article/uconn-cornerback-gets-insiders-look-capitol">told the AP about Jones in 2013</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"He has this incredible work ethic. He also has this grasp of how to get people to work together, that was on display almost immediately. He was giving some pretty sound advice to some of us who have been doing this for quite a while."</p>
<p>The season after those internships, Jones switched from safety to cornerback, and his football career began to take off. He started all 12 games as a junior. He was picked as team captain as a senior, and started the first seven games of the 2014 season before going down with a shoulder injury. </p>
<p>In <a href="http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2015/02/patriots_2015_nfl_draft_prospe_3.html">an interview with MassLive</a>, he credited long days working out with the George Washington University women's basketball team while interning in Washington D.C. for his success:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"I had to wake up at 5 (a.m.), worked out at 7, had my job from 8 to 6. It took an hour and a half to get back because D.C. traffic is so ridiculous. And then I'd run from like 8 to 9. By 9 o'clock I'm done. Eat first, of course, but then go right to sleep. So a lot of it was built up internal motivation just to be a better player and I found myself out there every day doing it, grinding."</p>
<p>Coming into the combine, projections on him were all over the place. NFL.com had him as <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-position/dt-by-position-input:cb">the 25th-best cornerback</a> in the class of 2015, while others thought he was one of <a href="http://www.nfl.com/top50">the 50 best players in the draft</a>. </p>
<p>On Monday, he blew everyone away. He jumped 12 feet, 3 inches in the broad jump, a combine record:</p>
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<p>He jumped 44.5 inches in the vertical leap, only a half-inch below the highest jump of the combine:</p>
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<p>He didn't run the 40-yard dash because he's still recovering from that shoulder injury. ESPN's Todd McShay <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/feb/23/nfl-combine-byron-jones-broad-jump-world-record/">told the Union Tribune on a conference call that he can run a 4.3-second 40</a> — which would have been the fastest of the combine.</p>
<p>"He's a really good 40 time away from having one of the better corner workouts we've ever seen," said McShay.</p>
<p>A week before the combine he posted a slow-mo video of himself with the caption, "After three months of no running, I'm slowly getting my legs back."</p>
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<p>There's much more to making it in the NFL than putting up crazy numbers in the combine. But on Monday he showed that he could be the pound-for-pound most physically gifted player in the entire draft. There's no way he's falling through the cracks now.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/byron-jones-breakout-star-nfl-combine-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid-surprise-football-2015-1">Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a wig and glasses, surprised a young fan on the streets of Madrid</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/byron-jones-nfl-combine-results-2015-2NFL Draft prospect jumps ridiculously high, historically far at the combinehttp://www.businessinsider.com/byron-jones-nfl-combine-results-2015-2
Mon, 23 Feb 2015 11:48:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img class="full" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/54eb5623eab8eaca7f5bc62c-1200-706/byron-jones-nfl-combine.jpg" border="0" alt="byron jones nfl combine"></p><p>Every year, one unknown NFL draft prospect jumps out of the gym at the combine.</p>
<p>This year, that guy is UConn cornerback Byron Jones.</p>
<p>Jones, who missed much of the season with a shoulder injury, helped his draft stock by posting some ridiculous results in the broad jump and vertical leap.</p>
<p>He jumped 12 feet, 3 inches in the broad jump. That is 8 inches farther than anyone else jumped at the combine this year. It's also an NFL combine record (the graphic on the Vine below is wrong). The world record is <a href="http://speedendurance.com/2013/03/12/nfl-combine-most-impressive-standing-long-jump/">widely credited to Norway's Arne Tvervaag</a> at 12 feet, 2 inches. Jones beat it:</p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">His vertical leap was just as impressive. He jumped 44 1/2 inches, which </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNFL/status/569892083965816832">ESPN reports</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> is a half-inch below the highest combine leap in nine years.</span></p>
<p>It's as if he is on an elevator (<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2015/2/23/8090327/byron-jones-nfl-combine-broad-jump-video-holy-wow">via SBNation</a>):</p>
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<p class="embed-spacer">Jones was <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-position/dt-by-position-input:cb">ranked 25th among cornerbacks by NFL.com enter the combine</a>. That means he was a fringe prospect to even get drafted. It is safe to say teams will give him a second look after what he did Monday.</p>
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Holy smokes a 12’3 broad jump by Connecticut’s Byron Jones. NFL people love this guy. </p>— Dan Kadar (@MockingTheDraft) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/569881893094744064">February 23, 2015</a>
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</div></div><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/byron-jones-nfl-combine-results-2015-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid-surprise-football-2015-1">Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing a wig and glasses, surprised a young fan on the streets of Madrid</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/johnny-manziel-russell-wilson-nfl-combine-2014-3CHART: Johnny Manziel Was Eerily Similar To Russell Wilson At The NFL Combinehttp://www.businessinsider.com/johnny-manziel-russell-wilson-nfl-combine-2014-3
Thu, 06 Mar 2014 10:44:00 -0500Cork Gaines
<p>It will be a while before we ever know if Johnny Manziel will be as good as Russell Wilson in the NFL. But when it comes to physical traits and abilities, they are nearly identical.</p>
<p>Below is a look at each player's measurables from their performances at the NFL Combine (via <a href="http://mockdraftable.com/"><em>MockDraftable.com</em></a>). While both quarterbacks are short compared to other quarterbacks, they make up for it in other areas with Wilson slightly better in the 40-yard dash and jumps and Manziel better in the agility drills.</p>
<p>In addition to exceptional speed and agility, we can see that both players have arms that are longer and hands that are much bigger than we might expect from somebody of their heights. These are eyebrow-raising similarities that will make Manziel a very tempting pick early in the NFL draft.</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/53188c9c6bb3f7f005529839-800-/01-182.png" border="0" alt="Johnny Manziel and Russell Wilson at the NFL Combine" width="800" /></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-draft-big-board-march-2014-2" >The Top 32 Players In The 2014 NFL Draft</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/johnny-manziel-russell-wilson-nfl-combine-2014-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/blake-bortles-girlfriend-questions-2014-2NFL Team Asks Draft Prospect About His Internet-Famous Girlfriend During Interviewhttp://www.businessinsider.com/blake-bortles-girlfriend-questions-2014-2
Thu, 27 Feb 2014 09:27:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/530f48af6da811a6381762fc-480-/blake-bortles-girlfriend.jpg" border="0" alt="blake bortles girlfriend" width="480" /></p><p>At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last week, NFL teams conducted interviews with different draft prospects.</p>
<p>These meetings are the closest NFL players come to a traditional job interview. But unlike Google or Facebook &mdash; which put candidates on the spot with diabolically tricky questions &mdash; NFL teams often try to stump interviewees with highly personal, and often inappropriate questions.</p>
<p>Dez Bryant was famously <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=5140313">asked if his mother was a prostitute</a>. Last year <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/nfl-teams-crossed-gay-line-combine-article-1.1275386">a prospect was asked</a> if he "liked girls."</p>
<p>This year, top quarterback prospect Blake Bortles was asked about his girlfriend, Lindsey Duke, who has become famous online for <a href="http://instagram.com/linds_duke">her bikini picture-filled Instagram account</a>.</p>
<p>Bortles <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djekr26bAl4">told Dan Patrick that one team asked him about Duke</a> to see how he'd react.</p>
<p>From the Dan Patrick Show:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Interviewer:</strong> "Wait, what did they ask you about your girlfriend. If you had one?"</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Bortles:</strong> "Yeah, if I had one. It was just kind of some awkward, 'Well if we come to town will she be there for dinner?' Stuff like that."</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Interviewer:</strong> "Wait a minute, your girlfriend's a little famous right? She's been on the Internet, pictures have gone viral of her. Very, very striking woman. Didn't they do their homework on this?"</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Bortles:</strong> "Yeah. They knew going into the meeting. I think that was kind of their angle, to see how I would react to it."</p>
<p>That's an awkward question. But Bortles is essentially interviewing to be a public figure, so it's probably fair game.</p>
<p>They seem happy:</p>
<p><iframe width="612" height="710" frameborder="0" src="//instagram.com/p/bKMtkmx5_G/embed/"></iframe> <iframe width="612" height="710" frameborder="0" src="//instagram.com/p/TrhOrxNCeX/embed/"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blake-bortles-girlfriend-questions-2014-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/jadeveon-clowney-40-time-2014-2Jadeveon Clowney Runs Freakishly Fast At The NFL Combinehttp://www.businessinsider.com/jadeveon-clowney-40-time-2014-2
Mon, 24 Feb 2014 10:55:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img class="full" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/530b69696bb3f7974a5fdb48-800-/screen%20shot%202014-02-24%20at%2010.43.25%20am.png" border="0" alt="jadeveon clowney" width="800" /></p><p>Jadeveon Clowney is blowing people away at the NFL Combine.</p>
<p>Last summer he was the unanimous No. 1 prospect in the NFL Draft. But after a sub-par 2013 season <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/2014-nfl-draft-big-board-january-2014-1">his stocked has slipped</a>.</p>
<p>At the combine &mdash; a pre-NFL Draft camp where prospects exercise in front of scouts &mdash; the ex-South Carolina defensive end is showing why people once considered him one of the best prospects in years.</p>
<p>Clowney officially ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash (revised from an unofficial 4.47). That's faster than every quarterback at the 2014 combine. It's faster than 19 of 33 running backs, and several wide receivers who worked out at the combine. It's faster than Colin Kaepernick or Cam Newton ran.</p>
<p>He's 6'5" tall and weights 266 pounds.</p>
<p>An absolute freak of an athlete.</p>
<p>Here's his 40-yard dash superimposed with Kaepernick and Newton's runs from a few years ago. That is ridiculous:</p>
<p><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/530b6955ecad043469920fe5/clowney-kaepernick.gif" border="0" alt="clowney kaepernick" /></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/2014-nfl-draft-big-board-january-2014-1" >The Top 32 Players In The 2014 NFL Draft</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jadeveon-clowney-40-time-2014-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/johnny-manziel-height-hands-2014-2One Picture Shows Why It Doesn't Matter That Johnny Manziel Is Less Than 6-Feet Tallhttp://www.businessinsider.com/johnny-manziel-height-hands-2014-2
Fri, 21 Feb 2014 09:21:00 -0500Cork Gaines
<p>Johnny Manziel has gone through the measurements at the NFL Combine and the one stat that will stand out to most is that he is not six-feet tall, <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/436851010947284992">coming a quarter of an inch short at 5-11 3/4</a>.</p>
<p>However, there is a second measurement which many consider more important, hand size, and Manziel's hands are big. Here is his hand next to the hand of Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner who is 6-foot-4.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Scouts say it's key for shorter QBs to have big hands (Brees) Here's Manziel hand next to 6-4 DevinGardner's <a href="http://t.co/6h7wDwDZ6l">pic.twitter.com/6h7wDwDZ6l</a></p>
&mdash; Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/statuses/380121000102207488">September 18, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p>Manziel's hands measured 9 7/8 inches at the combine and are actually <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/436848547401457664">bigger than the hands of the other top quarterbacks in the NFL Draft</a>, Teddy Bridgewater (9 1/4 inches) of Louisville and Blake Bortles (9 3/8 inches) of Central Florida. Both of those quarterbacks are well over 6-feet tall (6-foot-2 and 6-foot-5, respectively).</p>
<p>In fact, Manziel's measurements are similar to Russell Wilson who has been successful in the NFL despite being undersized. Wilson measured 5-foot-11 at the combine, but his hands are 10 1/4 inches.</p>
<p>Hand size is a valued trait for NFL quarterbacks because passers with bigger hands can control the ball better, especially in bad weather.</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/johnny-manziel-height-hands-2014-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/high-school-junior-can-bench-more-than-most-nfl-prospects-2014-1High School Junior Can Bench More Than Most NFL Prospectshttp://www.businessinsider.com/high-school-junior-can-bench-more-than-most-nfl-prospects-2014-1
Thu, 23 Jan 2014 13:57:06 -0500George Sitaras
<p>Defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko of Honolulu, Hawaii accomplished a ridiculous feat, bench-pressing 225 pounds 37 times.</p>
<p>Fekoko is 17 years-old and is listed at 6'3" 290 pounds. He plays defensive tackle for Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School. He is ranked the number 10 defensive tackle in the nation for the class of 2015 <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Breiden-Fehoko-130667">by Rivals.</a></p>
<p>In comparison, his 37 bench press reps is better than what NFL players B.J. Raji, J.J. Watt, Ndamukong Suh, and Vince Wilfork <a href="http://nflcombineresults.com/">recorded at the combine.</a></p>
<p>Check out his incredible strength here (via <a href="http://collegespun.com/homepage/video-class-of-2015-dt-recruit-breiden-fehoko-bench-presses-225-pounds-37-times">College Spun</a>):</p>
<p><iframe width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DU_rgsed7vw"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/high-school-junior-can-bench-more-than-most-nfl-prospects-2014-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/ny-attorney-general-letter-to-nfl-2013-3NFL Under Investigation For Discriminating Against Gayshttp://www.businessinsider.com/ny-attorney-general-letter-to-nfl-2013-3
Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:03:00 -0400Leah Goldman
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/514210d469bedd8f48000014-595-360/screen-shot-2013-03-14-at-2.01.15-pm-1.jpg" border="0" alt="bernard pollard hit on steven ridley" width="595" height="360" /></p><p></p>
<p>At the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a> tryouts two weeks ago, reports came out that teams were interested <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-teams-want-to-know-if-manti-teo-is-gay-2013-2">in knowing Manti Te'o's sexual orientation</a>.</p>
<p>During the interview portion of the of the tryouts (or what is known technically as the "combine"), several other NFL prospects, including tight end Nick Kasa, said coaches <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/an-nfl-team-reportedly-asked-a-player-if-he-likes-girls-at-the-combine-2013-2">flat out asked them "if they liked girls."</a></p>
<p>Under New York State law, along with laws in states that are home to <a href="http://www.ag.ny.gov/pdfs/NFL_Final.pdf">"at least 20 of the League's 32 teams"</a> locations, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against potential hires because of their sexual orientation, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a letter to <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/roger-goodell-7">Roger Goodell</a> today.</p>
<p>In the letter, Schneiderman requests that the league:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Issue a public statement clarifying its position</strong> "that any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation by league teams or their employees or agents against potential recruits or players is a violation of state, local, and in some cases, contractual law, and will not be tolerated."&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>"Memorialize this commitment in a written policy"</strong> and distribute the policy throughout the League.</li>
<li><strong>Advise NFL prospects to to contact League officials if they have ever been asked questions about their sexual orientation.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Schneiderman also wants to meet with the League staff investigating the incidents reported by Kasa and other players about the sexual orientation questions asked at the NFL combine.</p>
<p>Here is the entire document:</p>
<p style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/130364961" title="View NFL_Final on Scribd">NFL_Final</a></p>
<p><iframe width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/130364961/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll" data-auto-height="false" data-aspect-ratio="undefined"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ny-attorney-general-letter-to-nfl-2013-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/video-suggests-northern-iowa-receiver-did-run-a-419-40-yard-dash-2013-3Did An Unknown College Football Player Really Run A 4.19 40-Yard Dash?http://www.businessinsider.com/video-suggests-northern-iowa-receiver-did-run-a-419-40-yard-dash-2013-3
Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:57:00 -0500Cork Gaines
<p>At the recent University of Minnesota "Pro Day," in which college players can perform for <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a> scouts, Terrell Sinkfield of the University of Northern Iowa was clocked by at least one scout as having run the forty-yard dash in 4.19 seconds (<em><a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/05/terrell-sinkfields-4-19-second-40-yard-dash-doesnt-pass-the-smell-test/">via ProFootballTalk</a></em>). That number is significant because it would be faster than the NFL combine record of 4.24 seconds, set by Chris Johnson.</p>
<p>However, some are disputing the number. The director of college scouting for the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/minnesota-vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a> said he clocked Sinkfield in the "high 4.3s."</p>
<p>For what it's worth, going frame-by-frame during his second run in the video below (<em>via <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/espn">ESPN</a></em>) shows that Sinkfield ran a 4.16. However, that may be off as the angle of the camera doesn't give a good view of the finish line. Still, unless the video was sped up, that time is likely within a few hundredths of a second and is much closer to 4.19 than high 4.3s...<br /><br /></p>
<script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/MDlhYjRhYmQyMjA2NWM2Yzg4YTJkYzcz" type="text/javascript"></script>
<div id="ooyalaplayer" style="width: 618px; height: 350px;">&nbsp;</div>
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<noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/video-suggests-northern-iowa-receiver-did-run-a-419-40-yard-dash-2013-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/katie-hnida-criticizes-lauren-silberman-for-nfl-combine-failure-2013-3Fellow Female Kicker Says NFL Combine Competitor Lauren Silberman Was 'Terrible'http://www.businessinsider.com/katie-hnida-criticizes-lauren-silberman-for-nfl-combine-failure-2013-3
Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:11:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/513617c7ecad04262d000012-400-/lauren-silberman-icing-injury-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Lauren Silberman icing injury" width="400" /></p><p>Kicker Lauren Silberman only managed two kickoffs of 19 yards and 13 yards at the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a> Regional Combine on Sunday <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/female-kicker-injured-at-nfl-combine-2013-3">before pulling out with a quad injury</a>.</p>
<p>She was the first woman to ever participate in the try out.</p>
<p>Today the most famous female kicker in the US &mdash; former Division I kicker Katie Hnida &mdash; had a rough criticism of Silberman's try out <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/03/04/katie-hnida-says-lauren-silberman-was-terrible/1961559/">in an interview with Mike Garafolo of USA Today</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Her performance does not have to do with her gender, it has to do with her experience and her preparation. Unfortunately, what's going to happen now is she's going to be looked at (as inferior) because she was female.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"But she was terrible."</p>
<p>According to Garafolo, Silberman appeared to not know what she was doing. She took no warm-ups kicks and didn't take the correct number of steps back before her kickoffs.</p>
<p>Three other kickers who were trying out told USA Today that Silberman came up to them before the event and asked them how far behind the ball she should be lining up.</p>
<p>So even though Silberman was the first female to try out, all signs indicate that she was never really a serious threat to make the NFL. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/03/04/katie-hnida-says-lauren-silberman-was-terrible/1961559/">Said Hnida</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"It is disappointing. I hoped she would go out and do justice for an NFL tryout, because there are lots of people who have dreamed of going to the NFL. It should be something serious."</p>
<p>Silberman paid $275 to try out, so she had the right to take it however seriously as she wanted to. She <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/world-at-play/lauren-silberman-nfl-tryout-woman-kicker-scam-fail">told NFL Network before the event</a> that she was "<span>expecting to have fun and meet interesting people."</span></p>
<p>Here's the video of Silberman's kickoff:</p>
<p><iframe width="620" height="465" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3y4k3FPYPH0"></iframe></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/katie-hnida-criticizes-lauren-silberman-for-nfl-combine-failure-2013-3#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-winners-and-losers-of-the-2013-nfl-combine-2013-2The Winners And Losers Of The 2013 NFL Combinehttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-winners-and-losers-of-the-2013-nfl-combine-2013-2
Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:50:00 -0500Dan Kadar
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/512fb0a369bedd2d76000014-400-300/tyrann-mathieu-4.jpg" border="0" alt="tyrann mathieu" width="400" height="300" /></p><p>There was no more surreal moment in Indianapolis than LSU defensive end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78735/sam-montgomery" class="sbn-auto-link">Sam Montgomery</a> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/2/23/4022146/2013-nfl-combine-sam-montgomery-effort-lsu-defensive-ends" target="blank">admitting</a> he only gave good effort when it was needed. On the field, teammate <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78718/barkevious-mingo" class="sbn-auto-link">Barkevious Mingo</a> helped himself, registering excellent times and answering questions on if he fit as a linebacker in the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a>.</p>
<p>Other head turners included <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/84134/tavon-austin" class="sbn-auto-link">Tavon Austin</a> of West Virginia, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37406/dion-jordan" class="sbn-auto-link">Dion Jordan</a> of Oregon, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112942/ezekiel-ansah" class="sbn-auto-link">Ezekiel Ansah</a> of BYU and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112706/dee-milliner" class="sbn-auto-link">Dee Milliner</a> of Alabama. Their timing numbers were, by and large, expected. The following players are those who helped and hurt themselves.</p>
<h4><strong>WINNERS</strong></h4>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114554/david-amerson" class="sbn-auto-link">David Amerson</a>, CB, North Carolina State </strong></p>
<p>At some NFL building today, a scout is firing up the tape on Amerson after his star-making combine showing. After a down season in 2012, Amerson needed a good combine performance and had one of the best. At 6'2, he ran a 4.44 40-yard dash and had one of the longer broad jumps among defensive backs.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116009/tyrann-mathieu" class="sbn-auto-link">Tyrann Mathieu</a>, CB, LSU </strong></p>
<p>After a year away, Mathieu was welcomed back to football at the combine and helped himself (four bench press reps aside). Mathieu was moving around well and re-established himself as a very good slot corner that can play safety as well. Some teams will have him completely off their board. Others will covet his versatility and playmaking ability.</p>
<p><strong>Eric Fisher and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/87274/lane-johnson" class="sbn-auto-link">Lane Johnson</a> </strong></p>
<p>Imagine where the two offensive tackles were in the draft process at this time in December. They were firmly behind tackles <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115453/jake-matthews" class="sbn-auto-link">Jake Matthews</a> of Texas A&amp;M and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/76886/taylor-lewan" class="sbn-auto-link">Taylor Lewan</a> of Michigan. Both went back to school and it pushed Fisher and Johnson up draft boards. Then they were the best players at the Senior Bowl. That pushed them a little further. Then the two left tackles showed well in Indianapolis, becoming top 11 picks. Fisher is even in discussion for the first-overall pick.</p>
<p><strong>Most of the cornerback class </strong></p>
<p>Those fast guys ran fast at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jamar Taylor of Boise State, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36150/sanders-commings" class="sbn-auto-link">Sanders Commings</a> of Georgia, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/2/27/4035300/2013-nfl-combine-winners-losers-dion-jordan-dee-milliner#" class="sbn-auto-link">Robert Alford</a> of Southeast Louisiana and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/89462/desmond-trufant" class="sbn-auto-link">Desmond Trufant</a> of Washington all had better drill times than expected. Taylor and Trufant in particular elevated their stock. Trufant should now be an early second rounder and Taylor likely pushed himself into the top 100 picks.</p>
<p><strong>Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State </strong></p>
<p>Remember him? It's not <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114291/bjoern-werner" class="sbn-auto-link">Bjoern Werner</a> who is the best pure pass rusher from Florida State, it's Carradine. He had 11 sacks in 12 games last season before tearing his ACL. Carradine is on the Adrian Peterson rehab plan and is set to work out before the draft. Look for that work out to be packed as teams figure out just how high in the first round he can go.</p>
<p><strong>Chris Johnson, RB, <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/tennessee-titans">Tennessee Titans</a> </strong></p>
<p>Pop the champagne, no one broke your 40-yard dash record this year.</p>
<h4><strong>LOSERS</strong></h4>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78971/johnthan-banks" class="sbn-auto-link">Johnthan Banks</a>, CB, Mississippi State </strong></p>
<p>Banks didn't have a good day on Tuesday, running the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds and bench pressing just 10 reps. If <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/87393/xavier-rhodes" class="sbn-auto-link">Xavier Rhodes</a> wasn't ahead of him before, he is now. Banks was even overshadowed by former State teammate <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/137990/darius-slay" class="sbn-auto-link">Darius Slay</a>, who ran a 4.36.</p>
<p><strong>Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia </strong></p>
<p>There were plenty of questions about Jones coming into the combine, and he answered almost none of them. Jones decided not to work out in Indianapolis, so issues about his pure athleticism can't be alleviated until his pro day. Teams are also still waiting to hear back on medical reports for Jones. Because of those concerns, Jones is still a top five prospect that could fall in the draft.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77453/christine-michael" class="sbn-auto-link">Christine Michael</a>, RB, Texas A&amp;M </strong></p>
<p>Somebody forgot to tell Michael that it's the team interviews in Indianapolis that are the most important part of the process. Michael was one of the top performers among running backs, but he may have wasted it all. According to the all-knowing Gil Brandt of NFL.com, Michael <a href="https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/status/306547815146995712" target="blank">slept through</a> interviews with two teams.</p>
<p><strong><a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/kansas-city-chiefs">Kansas City Chiefs</a> </strong></p>
<p>Offensive tackle <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115454/luke-joeckel" class="sbn-auto-link">Luke Joeckel</a> didn't time well and quarterback Geno Smith didn't stand out in positional drills (yes, he ran fast). The uncertainty about what to do with the No. 1 pick in the draft is no more known now than it was last week. In fact, it's an even cloudier picture. Look for the Chiefs to be debating their pick all the way up to draft day.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/85472/robbie-rouse" class="sbn-auto-link">Robbie Rouse</a>, RB, Fresno State </strong></p>
<p>He's a 190-pound running back that ran a 4.8 40-yard dash. What more needs to be said?</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115467/damontre-moore" class="sbn-auto-link">Damontre Moore</a>, DE, Texas A&amp;M </strong></p>
<p>Moore's combine struggles have been well-documented. He ran a 4.95 40-yard dash and bench pressed 225 pounds just 12 times. Certainly during combine prep, Moore had to know he was going to get these type of numbers. Why participate? Either work more until your pro day, or just sit out work outs completely. Now teams are wondering if Moore will be a factor as a pass rusher, or if he's just a base end.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/13926/rontez-miles" class="sbn-auto-link">Rontez Miles</a>' tattoo </strong></p>
<p>California (Pa.) safety Rontez Miles is the <a href="http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/07/reuben_fosters_auburn_pledge_n.html" target="blank">Reuben Foster</a> of NFL Draft prospects. One of his shoulders features the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/pittsburgh-steelers">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> logo, which is probably normal for many Pennsylvania natives. It could be his ticket to a camp tryout with the Steelers if he goes undrafted. But what happens if he gets drafted by the rival <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/cleveland-browns">Cleveland Browns</a>? Get the lasers.</p>
<h4><strong>RANDOM COMBINE NOTES:</strong></h4>
<p>Players like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75834/margus-hunt" class="sbn-auto-link">Margus Hunt</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77327/marquise-goodwin" class="sbn-auto-link">Marquise Goodwin</a> weren't mentioned because their athletic feats weren't anything out of the ordinary. We knew they'd time well. Hunt, at 6'8, looked really thin. Despite his 38 bench press reps, he needs to pack on bulk.</p>
<p>NFL teams have to be taking pause on Utah defensive tackle <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114734/star-lotulelei" class="sbn-auto-link">Star Lotulelei</a> after it was determined he needed more testing due to a heart issue. You hope for the best for Lotulelei, but the cold NFL Draft process may knock him down the first round.</p>
<p>Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter may have come in skinny at 196 pounds, but his 4.44 40-yard dash, 39.5-inch vertical and 11'6 broad jump showed he's fully healthy after looking a little off last season after injuring his ACL in 2011.</p>
<p>After Florida safety <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/111911/matt-elam" class="sbn-auto-link">Matt Elam</a> measured in at 5'9, some wondered if he would drop in the draft. Then he tested out nicely and, more importantly, looked fluid in position drills.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/84654/manti-te-o" class="sbn-auto-link">Manti Te'o</a> worked out. He was slow. He was a little undersized. The media swarmed him. I just don't care. Anyone who expected Te'o to do well in drills is foolish. He's still a late first-round or early second-round pick. The combine didn't help or hurt him.</p>
<p>Most highly anticipated pro day coming up? <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78123/matt-barkley" class="sbn-auto-link">Matt Barkley</a> of Southern California. He talked a big game during his media session, saying there are no arm strength concerns. At his pro day on March 27, he gets to back it up. If he does, someone in the first round will come calling.</p>
<p><strong>More on <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/sb-nation">SB Nation</a>:</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/2/25/4026530/2013-nfl-mock-draft-combine-star-lotulelei-tank-carradine?utm_source=sbnation&amp;utm_medium=nextclicks&amp;utm_campaign=articlebottom"><strong></strong>2013 NFL Mock Draft &gt;&gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2013/2/26/4029796/2013-nfl-free-agency-teams?utm_source=sbnation&amp;utm_medium=nextclicks&amp;utm_campaign=articlebottom">NFL Free Agency: Why you don't want to play in any city &gt;&gt;&gt;</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2013/2/23/4021512/nfl-combine-video-linemen-40s-chariots-of-fire?utm_source=sbnation&amp;utm_medium=nextclicks&amp;utm_campaign=articlebottom">Watch the offensive linemen run the 40 at the combine &gt;&gt;&gt;</a></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-winners-and-losers-of-the-2013-nfl-combine-2013-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/an-nfl-team-reportedly-asked-a-player-if-he-likes-girls-at-the-combine-2013-2An NFL Team Reportedly Asked A Player If He 'Likes Girls' At The Combinehttp://www.businessinsider.com/an-nfl-team-reportedly-asked-a-player-if-he-likes-girls-at-the-combine-2013-2
Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:19:00 -0500Leah Goldman
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/512e593269beddab17000000-400-299/men-stare-at-a-cone-in-nfl-combine-1.jpg" border="0" alt="men stare at a cone in nfl combine" width="400" height="299" /></p><p>Along with various strength and conditioning drills, college players heading to the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a> Draft have interviews with NFL teams during the Combine.</p>
<p>On an <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/espn">ESPN</a> radio show out of Denver, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/colorado-nick-kasa-says-asked-combine-girls-151539932--nfl.html;_ylt=AgOKWm7FXf_InaEjt08BKlbYupV4;_ylu=X3oDMTFldGMzMzFpBG1pdANTdXBlciBCbG9nIEluZGV4BHBvcwMxOQRzZWMDTWVkaWFCbG9nSW5kZXg-;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3">a tight end from Colorado, Nick Kasa, told the hosts that in these interviews, coaches are asking questions meant to "catch you off guard"</a> and "see how badly they can get into your minds."</p>
<p>Kasa explains further what types of questions NFL coaches are asking:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"They ask you like, 'Do you have a girlfriend? Are you married? Do you like girls? Those kinds of things. It was kind of weird. But they would ask you with a straight face, and it&rsquo;s a pretty weird experience altogether."</p>
<p>It seems like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-teams-want-to-know-if-manti-teo-is-gay-2013-2">Manti Te'o's sexual orientation isn't the only one NFL teams</a> are interested in.</p>
<p>NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello released the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000145664/article/nfl-team-asks-colorados-nick-kasa-do-you-like-girls?campaign=Twitter_atl">following statement about the incident,</a> via Gregg Rosenthal:</p>
<p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;">"Like all employers, our teams are expected to follow applicable federal, state and local employment laws. It is league policy to neither consider nor inquire about sexual orientation in the hiring process. &nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1" style="padding-left: 30px;">"In addition, there are specific protections in our collective bargaining agreement with the players that prohibit discrimination against any player, including on the basis of sexual orientation. We will look into the report on the questioning of Nick Kasa at the Scouting Combine. Any team or employee that inquires about impermissible subjects or makes an employment decision based on such factors is subject to league discipline."</p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/an-nfl-team-reportedly-asked-a-player-if-he-likes-girls-at-the-combine-2013-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-nfl-combine-face-plant-yet-2013-2The Best NFL Combine Face-Plant Yethttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-nfl-combine-face-plant-yet-2013-2
Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:28:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p>This is <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a> defensive back prospect Shamarko Thomas, who ran incredibly fast, taking a header at the end of his 40-yard dash <a href="http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2013/02/26/shamarko-thomas-faceplant-tripped-after-running-a-4-38-40-yard-dash/">(via Big Lead Sports)</a>:</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/512cf0db6bb3f7b44b000006/shamarko-thomas-faceplant.gif" border="0" alt="shamarko thomas faceplant" /></p>
<p>Not sure why this is happening so much this year. Maybe these guys are coached to go all out and not worry if they stumble after the finish line?</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/512bc573eab8ea796a000011/manti-teo-falls-down-at-combine.gif" border="0" alt="manti teo falls down at combine" /></p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/512bd5a3ecad04993e000005/nfl-combine-guy-falls-down.gif" border="0" alt="nfl combine guy falls down" /></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-nfl-combine-face-plant-yet-2013-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/vontaze-burfict-shows-how-little-nfl-combine-matters-2013-2This Bengals Player Had The Worst NFL Combine Imaginable Last Year And It Didn't Matterhttp://www.businessinsider.com/vontaze-burfict-shows-how-little-nfl-combine-matters-2013-2
Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:59:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/512cee3869bedd8a7f000006-400-/vontaze-burfict-cincinnati-bengals-2.jpg" border="0" alt="vontaze burfict cincinnati bengals" width="400" /></p><p>Vontaze Burfict was awful in every possible way at the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a> Combine last year.</p>
<p>He <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2011/profiles/vontaze-burfict?id=2533058">ran slower than any linebacker</a>, jumped poorly, and failed his interviews with NFL teams.</p>
<p>The performance was so bad that he went undrafted despite being a consensus first-round pick last winter.</p>
<p>But in a twist that makes you question the value of the Combine, ultimately none of that mattered. He signed with the Bengals as a free agent, got promoted to starter early in the year, and was the team's best linebacker by the playoffs.</p>
<p>Burfict looked to be a total mess at this time last year, so it's unfair to criticize the writers who bashed him too badly.</p>
<p>But his story just goes to show yow how a Combine performance (good or bad) can be blown totally out of proportion.</p>
<p>Here's what people were saying about Burfict last year.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/20120302heat-index-asu-football-vontaze-burfict-draft-position.html?nclick_check=1"><span></span></a><a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/bob-young">Bob Young</a>, The Arizona Republic:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"He didn't even bother with the bench-press test or shuttle runs. So, let's see: No speed. No explosiveness. No competitive spirit.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"Yep, you want to invest millions of dollars in this guy."</span></p>
<p><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/don_banks/02/29/combine.awards/index.html#ixzz2M1eLWFJk">Don Banks, SI, who gave him the "Career Self-Destruction Award":</a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Burfict had a nice week. He proclaimed himself the "best linebacker in this draft,'' blamed everyone else but himself for his shaky 2011 season, defended his decision to "swing on'' a teammate in a locker-room fight last year, and then ran a disappointing 5.09 and broad-jumped just 8 feet, 7 inches. This is a guy who came across to the league as having blind spots the size of, well, the Grand Canyon, which coincidentally is in Arizona.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Burfict thinks he's a misunderstood first-round talent. The league is more likely to give him an underachiever's third-round grade. And factoring in his winning personality and personal baggage, don't be surprised if you don't hear his name called on draft weekend until the third and final day."</p>
<p><a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/19/mayock-calls-vontaze-burfict-a-non-draftable-kid/">Mike Mayock, NFL Network:</a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">&ldquo;I put his tape on with absolutely zero preconceived notions. I watched three tapes and&nbsp;<em>really</em>&nbsp;didn&rsquo;t like him as a football player.&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">I think he&rsquo;s a non-draftable kid. For me, he&rsquo;s a free agent.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><a href="http://bruce-feldman.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/31626208/35006810">An unnamed NFL scout (via CBS Sports):</a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>"I wouldn't touch him. He does have some talent, but he is so undisciplined on and off the field. The guy is completely out of control. There's no way you could trust him. I can't believe they (ASU coaching staff) didn't cut him loose."</span></p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/59627/kendricks-outshines-burfict-at-combine"><span></span></a><a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/espn">ESPN</a> Scouts Inc.:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><span>"Burfict's 2011 film says he's a third-rounder, and when you add in those results along with character baggage and poor interviews his stock is beginning to plummet."</span></span></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vontaze-burfict-shows-how-little-nfl-combine-matters-2013-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/why-the-nfl-comine-is-dumb-tyrann-mathieu-2013-2What Happened To Tyrann Mathieu Shows Exactly Why The NFL Combine Is Awfulhttp://www.businessinsider.com/why-the-nfl-comine-is-dumb-tyrann-mathieu-2013-2
Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:11:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/512cdd5a6bb3f7262a000003-400-/tyrann-mathieu-nfl-combine.jpg" border="0" alt="tyrann mathieu nfl combine" width="400" /></p><p>The <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a> Combine is a workout camp where NFL draft prospects exercise in front of NFL scouts and coaches.</p>
<p>It's hugely influential even though the vast majority of the drills only have a tangential relationship to the game of football.</p>
<p>Here's a perfect example of how the Combine is dumb:</p>
<p>Tyrann Mathieu &mdash; the former LSU Heisman Trophy finalist who was kicked off the team for using marijuana &mdash; only bench-pressed 225 pounds four times yesterday.</p>
<p>That number tied for the weakest weight-lifting showing of any defensive back at the Combine.</p>
<p>Even though bench pressing is meaningless when it comes to playing cornerback, the NFL world was extremely disappointed.</p>
<p>Michael David Smith&nbsp;<a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/26/tyrann-mathieus-bench-press-may-call-his-work-ethic-into-question/">at PFT said</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"It&rsquo;s easy to scoff at the bench press as irrelevant to what a defensive back does on a football field, but an extremely low bench press is indicative of a player who isn&rsquo;t working hard enough in the weight room."</p>
<p>The twisted logic here: Even though the bench press is irrelevant, it reflects poorly on Mathieu that he didn't work harder at the bench press, which is irrelevant.</p>
<p>NFL.com's Gil Brandt viewed it different. He says that <a href="https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/status/306408729174228993">the poor bench can only be remedied by a strong 40-yard dash</a>:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Tyrann Mathieu about to run his 40 at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23NFLCombine">#NFLCombine</a>. Had just four bench reps and needs to run well today. Instinctive player good on returns.</p>
&mdash; Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/status/306408729174228993">February 26, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p>This is the stupidity of the NFL Combine in a nutshell.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The point of the Combine is to do well at the Combine. Everyone, <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/26/tyrann-mathieus-bench-press-may-call-his-work-ethic-into-question/">like Smith</a>, concedes that the drills themselves are "irrelevant." But at the same time the drills come to represent something incredibly meaningful to NFL insiders.</p>
<p>Suddenly the bench press at the NFL Combine isn't about judging strength, it's about judging "work ethic" &mdash; which is actually more important than strength.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Since the drills themselves tell you nothing from an objective football standpoint, you make the drills stand-ins for something the they were never meant to quantify.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Last year linebacker Vontaze Burfict &mdash; a standout at Arizona State &mdash; <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/27/vontaze-burficts-rough-combine-continues/">did horribly at the Combine</a>.&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">He was slow and out of shape and petulant, and he went undrafted as basically a direct result of being awful at these drills.</span></p>
<p>Eight months later, he was starting for the Bengals and playing better than any linebacker on the team.&nbsp;</p>
<p>NFL commentators take banal exercises and construct false (yet meaningful) narratives out of them at the Combine.</p>
<p>In reality, the fact that Mathieu can't lift weights well means nothing. But in the context of the Combine, it will legitimately affect on NFL people view him, which is awful.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/most-ridiculous-2013-nfl-combine-gifs-2013-2" >11 Images That Make The NFL Combine Look Like A Total Joke ></a></strong></p>
<p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/25-best-free-agents-in-the-nfl-2013-2" >The 25 Best Free Agents In The NFL ></a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-the-nfl-comine-is-dumb-tyrann-mathieu-2013-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/barrett-jones-jokes-about-nflcom-picture-mix-up-2013-2NFL Draft Prospect Calls Out NFL.com For Using A Completely Different Person For His Official Picturehttp://www.businessinsider.com/barrett-jones-jokes-about-nflcom-picture-mix-up-2013-2
Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:13:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a>.com was having some issues with its headshots for draft prospects earlier today.</p>
<p>In one particularly bad mix up, Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones (who is white) was replaced by an unidentified African-American player.</p>
<p>Jones saw it and cracked a joke on Twitter:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Umm guys I've really been out in the sun a lot lately...or so <a href="http://t.co/qiYOW5B9u2" title="http://NFL.com">NFL.com</a> thinks. <a href="http://t.co/Jnpj1HHnoR" title="http://twitter.com/BarrettAJones/status/306116070228492288/photo/1">twitter.com/BarrettAJones/&hellip;</a></p>
&mdash; Barrett Jones (@BarrettAJones) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarrettAJones/status/306116070228492288">February 25, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p>Pretty much the exact opposite of how he looks in real life:</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/512bc0926bb3f7ec09000005-620-/alabama-football-player-barrett-jones.jpg" border="0" alt="alabama football player barrett jones" width="620" /></p>
<p>It's fixed now:</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/512bc0f66bb3f7af0900000c-620-376/barrett-jones-nflcom-profile.jpg" border="0" alt="barrett jones nflcom profile" /></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/most-ridiculous-2013-nfl-combine-gifs-2013-2" >11 Images That Make The NFL Combine Look Like A Total Joke ></a></strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/barrett-jones-jokes-about-nflcom-picture-mix-up-2013-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/jamie-collins-vertical-leap-2013-2Check Out How High This Guy Jumped At The NFL Combinehttp://www.businessinsider.com/jamie-collins-vertical-leap-2013-2
Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:54:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p>Ridiculously high.</p>
<p>Linebacker Jamie Collins jumped 41.5 inches in the vertical jump today at the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a> Combine &mdash; which is a workout camp where potential NFL Draft prospects perform a variety of exercises in front of scouts.</p>
<p>Guy looks photoshopped in mid-air:</p>
<p><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/512bcca7ecad04d82e000004-900-/jami-collins-jumping-at-nfl-combine.jpg" border="0" alt="jami collins jumping at nfl combine" width="900" /></p>
<p>In GIF form:</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/512bcdad6bb3f7d924000000/jamie-collins-jump.gif" border="0" alt="jamie collins jump gif" /></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jamie-collins-vertical-leap-2013-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/manti-teo-falls-down-at-the-nfl-combine-2013-2Manti Te'o Falls Down At The NFL Combinehttp://www.businessinsider.com/manti-teo-falls-down-at-the-nfl-combine-2013-2
Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:19:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p>Manti Te'o, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-combine-manti-teo-runs-slow-40-yard-dash-2013-2">who has had a pretty rough start to the NFL Combine</a>, just fell over in this drill where you have to run around some cones.</p>
<p>In the twisted world of the <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a>, where the combine is a HUGE deal, this matters.</p>
<p>You're supposed to run through the cones in this drill, not tumble through them.</p>
<p>Te'o played it off cool though:</p>
<p><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/512bc573eab8ea796a000011/manti-teo-falls-down-at-combine.gif" border="0" alt="manti teo falls down at combine" /></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/manti-teo-falls-down-at-the-nfl-combine-2013-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-combine-manti-teo-runs-slow-40-yard-dash-2013-2Manti Te'o Is Having A Rough NFL Combine, Disappoints Ravens Coach With A Slow 40-Yard-Dashhttp://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-combine-manti-teo-runs-slow-40-yard-dash-2013-2
Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:24:00 -0500Tony Manfred
<p><img style="float:right;" src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/512bb8b7eab8eaaf4b000009-400-/manti-teo-at-the-nfl-combine-1.jpg" border="0" alt="manti teo at the nfl combine" width="400" /></p><p>Manti Te'o is having an underwhelming <a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/nfl">NFL</a> combine, at least when it comes to on-field stuff.</p>
<p>He ran a 4.82 40-yard-dash today, which was <a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/25/manti-teo-runs-his-first-40-in-unofficial-4-81/">a little bit slower than what people expected</a>. It was one of the slowest times of any linebacker who participated.</p>
<p>Te'o is also physically smaller than scouts anticipated at 241 pounds, making his slow 40-time that much worse.</p>
<p>The disclaimer here is that it's dumb to judge how good a football player someone is by a random sampling of exercises. But the combine really matters to NFL people, and Te'o probably hurt himself by not putting up some freaky numbers.</p>
<p>Here's his first attempt:</p>
<p><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/512bb540eab8ea7a4000000b/manti-teo-40-yard-dash.gif" border="0" alt="manti teo 40 yard dash" /></p>
<p>On the other hand, all indications are that Te'o has quelled some fears about the whole imaginary girlfriend thing in his meetings with teams.</p>
<p><a class="hidden_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/yahoo">Yahoo</a>!'s Mike Silver said on Twitter:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>I've spoken with several GMs and coaches who've done 15-minute team interviews with manti te'o. They all came away really liking the kid.</p>
&mdash; Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeSilver/status/306113913265741825">February 25, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>
<p>So that's a big plus.</p>
<p>But even if the girlfriend hoax made Te'o look worse than it did, his on-field skill is what will make or break him as a draft prospect. And a so-so combine won't help him in that respect.</p>
<p>Ravens coach John Harbaugh sums up the NFL world's feelings on Te'o (<a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/740/603/harbaugh_original.gif?1361819498">via Bleacher Report</a>):</p>
<p><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/512bb7efeab8ea534b00000d/harbaugh-teo-40-yard-dash.gif" border="0" alt="harbaugh teo 40 yard dash" /></p><p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-combine-manti-teo-runs-slow-40-yard-dash-2013-2#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p>